Endoscope connector

• US 4,261,345 A
• Filed: 11/20/1979
• Issued: 04/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tatuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US06/096,008
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 128/6, 128/4, 128/7-11, 128/247
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/06 of the multiline swivel type, e.g. comprising a plurality of axially mounted modules

Abstract

An endoscope connector comprises a cylindrical body detachably connected to a light source console and provided with an illumination optical fiber bundle and a fluid passage, an annular grooved communication chamber formed in the outer peripheral wall of the connector body to communicate with the fluid passage, a ring member rotatably surrounding the communication chamber in a fluid tightness, and a fluid-guiding fitting mounted on the ring member. Application of the ring member in combination with the annular grooved communication chamber reduces a length of time required to free a protective tube for coupling the connector to the endoscope from twistings which probably arise from the unavoidable rotation of the endoscope during insertion into a coeliac cavity, thereby decreasing the operation time of the endoscope.

Claims

1. In an endoscope comprising:

an operation section;

a protective tube having two ends, one end being connected to the operation section;

a connector comprising a cylindrical connector body, one end of which is detachably connected to a light source console set outside of the endoscope, and the other end of which is connected to the other end of the protective tube, and in which at least one fluid-guiding passage is provided, said connector body having an outer peripheral wall, and at least one fluid-guiding fitting communicating with said fluid-guiding passage;

an illumination optical fiber bundle extending from the operation section through the protective tube to penetrate the connector body axially thereof; and

at least one fluid-guiding tube extending from the operation section through the protective tube to penetrate the connector body axially thereof for connection to said fluid-guiding passage, the improvement wherein said connector further comprises;

at least one annular grooved communication chamber formed in the outer peripheral wall of the connector body to communicate with the fluid-guiding passage; and

a ring member which surrounds the annular grooved communication chamber and rotates along the outer peripheral wall of the connector body in a fluid tightness and which is provided with a fluid-guiding fitting.

2. The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein sealing means is provided between both edges of the annular grooved communication chamber of the connector body and the ring member.

3. The endoscope connector according to claim 2, wherein the sealing means comprises a pair of O-rings.

4. The endoscope connector according to claim 3, wherein the connector body has an annular groove formed in those portions of the outer peripheral wall of the connector body which lie adjacent to both edges of the communication chamber;

and the O-ring is provided in the annular groove in contact with the inner wall of the ring member.

5. The endoscope connector according to claim 3, wherein a pair of annular flanges are formed on both edges of the ring member to project radially into the communication chamber;

an annular groove is formed in each of the annular flanges; and

the O-ring is set in the annular groove in contact with the inner wall of the communication chamber.

6. The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein a cock valve is provided in the fluid-guiding fitting.

7. The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the ring member is provided with another fluid-guiding fitting communicating with the communication chamber.

8. The endoscope connector according to claim 7, wherein a cock valve is provided in the respective fluid-guiding fittings.